Pliers for universal use



March 29, 1932.

M. c. MIKKELSEN 1,851,126

. PLIERS FOR UNIVERSAL USE Filed June 25. 1950 2a I, l Z1 9 10 Z2 @Ill-Ilm mvENToR /Lclzczol CNL/chaine@ M14/zzan M y ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 29, 1932 UNITED lSTAT- lss l'nfri-:la'r OFFICE MICHAEL C. MIKKELSEN, OF OCEANSIDE, IONGr ISLAND, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH T0 HIlvISELF, ONE-FOURTH TO LATI-IAM SMITH. WILLIAMS, 0F BELLAIRE, I. I., NEW YORK, ONE-FOURTH TO THOBWAID EMANUEL MIKKELSEN, 0F

OCEANSIDE, NEW YORK, AND ONE-FOURTH TO WILLIAM HERMAN MICHAELSEN,

OF ROCKVILLE CENTER, NEW YORK PLIERS FOR UNIVERSAL USE Application filed J'une 23,

My invention relates to pliers for universal use, and particularly is an improvement upon pliers of small size, used by hand for removing and replacing metallic fastenings of various kinds.

While my invention admits of general use it is well adapted for removing and replacing metallic pins, and fastenings known as horseshoe clips and the like, ordinarily used upon the valve stems of internal combustion engines.

In vthis connectionV it may be noted that pliers in which the gripping'jaws are of proper form for gripping objects of one form may not be suitable for use upon objects of a. different form, although these last Vmentioned objects may readily be gripped by pliers in which the jaws are properly formed to grasp them.

What I seek to do by my invention is to provide a pair of pliers with spring'jaws having different portions formed and arranged for gripping objects differing in form and size. and to adapt the jaws particularly for handling the metallic pins and horseshoe clips commonlyused upon the valve stems of motor vehicle engines.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of my specification and in which like referenceV charactersindicate like parts throughout all ofthe figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing my improved pliers as used for insertingV a pin into or extracting the same from a valve stem. 1

Figure 2 is an inverted plan of the mecha nism shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan of my device, shown as with its jaws'being fitted upon a horseshoe clip of'an engine valve, a portion of the pliers appearing as broken away.

Figure 4 is a substantially vertical section through my device showing the same with its aws completely fitted upon the horseshoe clip.

Figure 5 is a substantially horizontal section through my device, and shows the ejector thereof in use for clearing the pliers from the horseshoe clip, after the latter is fitted upon the valve stem.

1930. serial No. 462,966.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan of mechal nism shown in the right hand portion of Figure 4. Y

Figure 7 is a section on the line 7-7 vof Figure 3, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows. 1 f y Fitted telescopically into a handle portion 8 of substantially cylindrical form and movable relatively thereto is a cylindrical section 9.

Extending entirely through the cylindrical section 9 and fixed at all times relatively to the handle portion 8 is a jaw carrier 10.

The cylindrical section 9 carries a finger piece 11, fixed upon it and extending through a slot 12 with which the cylindrical handle portion 8 is provided.. This handle portion 8 also carries a thumb piece 13, having in this instance the form of a thumb piece. The` handle portion 8 is also provided with a closed end portion 14. Y

A compression spring 15 is housed within the handle portion 8, and engages the end portion 14 and also the cylindrical section9. This spring is always under compression, its tendency being to force the cylindrical section 9 to the right according to Figure 4.

rlhev cylindrical section 9 is provided at its outer end with a large slot 16, so formed as to leave a pair of flat faces 17 parallel with each other, as may be understood from Figure 7. Y

Mounted .upon the jaw carrier 10 and veX- tending outwardly` therefrom are a pair of spring blades 18, 18. These are provided withV curved portions 19, 19, adapted to serve as one pair of jaws, and is further provided with a'pair of tips 20, 20 forme-d to serve as another pair of aws, but of different form. Hence, the curved jaws 19, 19 may readily be fitted upon an object of vone shape, and the jaws 20, 20 may be applied to objects of another shape. y

Exten ding axially through the tubular-j aw carrier 10 is an ejector rod 21, provided with an ejector head 22. A compression spring 23 encircles a portion of the ejector rod 21, and engages a knob 24, carried thereby, this spring also engaging the end portion 14 of the handle portion 8. The knob is controllable by the operator for the purpose of moving the ejector rod 21 endwise relatively to other parts.

For most purposes the operator in handling the pliers simply places his thumb against the thumb piece 1-3 and his forefinger against the finger piece 11, somewhat after the manner of grasping a revolver; and this done if by means of his forefinger he pulls upon the finger piece 11, he causes the cylindrical section 9 to move endwise to the left relatively to the handle portion 8.

The sliding movement of the cylindrical section 9 relatively to the jaw carrier 10 partially uncovers the spring blades 18, and allows them to spring apart causing jaws 19, 19, and also the jaws 20, 20, to likewise diverge or move apart, but does not disturb the position of the ejector rod 21.

If, next, the operator pushes the knob 24 to the right, the ejector rod is thereby thrust endwise, so that the ejector head 22 is moved yto the right.

If the pressure of the finger and thumb upon the finger piece 11 and thumb piece 13 be now relaxed, the handle portion 8 and the cylindrical section are retracted into their respective normal positions.

A valve stem is shown at 25, and another one at 26. These valve stems are of the kind used in internal combustion engines, of the type suitable for motor vehicles.

The valve stem 25 carries a pin 27 extending diametrically through it. The valve stem 26 carries a horse-shoe clip 28, normally fitted upon a neck portion 29 of the valve, as indicated in Figure 4.

In order to extract the pin 27 the operator grasps the pliers, placing his forefinger upon the nger piece 11 and his thumb upon the thumb piece 13. Pressing these two parts slightly-he causes the jaws to diverge, and this donehe causes the tips 20, 20, to clasp the Ypin 27; and then by pulling upon the pliers E he extracts the pin.

Toinsert the pin, he simply follows the reverse process; that is, he causes the tips 20, 2O to clasp one end of the pin, whereupon he thrusts'the pin through the valve stem, and then releases it by pressing the finger piece 11 and thumb piece 13 slightly toward each other.

In order to remove the Ahorseshoe clip 28,

the operator presses the finger piece 11 and f thumb piece 13 slightly toward each other,

the curved portions 19, 19, as gripping aws,

to clasp the horseshoe clip as indicated in Figure 6; and by withdrawing the pliers he dislodges the horseshoe clip from the valve stem.

In order to place the horseshoe clip in position upon the valve stem 26, the operator first fits the clip in between the curved portions 19, 19; and this done he, by guidingzthe'pliers accurately, he fits the horseshoe clip firmly against the neck 29. Then he loosens the curved portions 19, 19 relatively to the horseshoe clip; and at the same time, by pressing upon the knob 24 and thus moving the ejector rod 21 slightly endwise, he thrusts'the ejector head 22 firmly against the horseshoe clip. By doing this carefully and atV the same time withdrawing the pliers, he lea-ves the horseshoe clip fitted accurately in position upon the neck 29.

In this connection it will be noted that if the head 22 be advanced against the horseshoe clip 28 as the pliers Vare withdrawn vlengthwise, the horseshoe clip. can not be dislodged by any accidental draggingaction of thejaws.

The operation of my device maybe readily understood from the foregoing description.

lVhenever the operator has occasion to remove or replace a pin or a horseshoe clip, used upon a valve stem, he manipulates the pliers as above described.

I do not limit myself to the precise mechanism shown, as variations may be made therein without departing from my invention, the scope of which is commensurate with my claims.

I-Iaving thus described my invention,'what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. Pliers comprising a handle xportion of substantially cylindrical form, a cylindrical section fitted telescopically to said lhandle portion and slidable relatively' thereto, a supporting member mounted upon said handle portion and extending into said cylindrical section, a pair of spring-blades mounted upon said supporting member and extending outwardly from said cylindrical section, said spring blades engaging the adjacent end portion of said cylindrical section and being guided by movements thereof relatively to said handle portion, said spring bla-des being formed into gripping jaws, and means for enabling the operator to move said handle portion and said cylindrical section relatively to each other.

2. Pliers comprising a handle portion of substantially cylindrical form, a cylindrical section fitted telescopically to said handle portion and slidable relatively thereto, a supporting member mounted upon said handle portion and extending into said cylindrical section, a pair of spring blades mounted upon said supporting member and extending outwardly from said cylindrical section, said spring blades engaging the adjacent end portion of said cylindrical section and being guided by movements thereof relatively to said handle portion, said spring blades having gripping jaws controllable by movements of said cylindrical section relatively to said handle portion, and means controllable by the operator for moving said handle portion and said cylindrical section relatively to each other.

3. The combination of a substantially cylindrical section provided at one of its ends with a slot, a supporting member extending into said cylindrical section at the end thereof opposite said slot and movable toward and from said slot, a pair of spring blades carried by said supporting member and provided with portions formed into gripping jaws, said spring blades having a sliding engagement with the adjacent end por- 'tions ot said supporting member as bounded by said slot, said spring blades, by virtue of their resilience having a tendency to diverge and being normally restrained from so doing bv their engagement with portions of said cvlindrical member, and means controllable by the operator for moving said supporting member relatively to said substantially cylindrical member.

4. The combination of a substantially cvlindrical section provided at one of its ends with a slot. a supporting member extending into said cylindrical section at the end thereof opposite said slot and movable toward and from said slot` a pair of spring blades carried by said supporting member and provided wth portions formed into .dripping jaws, said spring blades having a` sliding engaeement with the adjacent end portions of said supporting member as bound-ed bv said slot, said spring blades by virtue of their resilience having a tendency to diverge and being normally restrained by so doing by their engagement with portions of said cylindrical member. said spring blades having portions formed intol gripping jaws.

5. Pliers comprising an inner cylindrical Amember and an outer cylindri cal member fitted together telescopicallv and slidable relatively to each other, a finger piece and a 11@thumb piece mounted upon said cvlindrical member respectively, for sliding them relatively to each other in one direction, a spring for sliding them in the opposite direction, a supporting member connected with the outer cylindrical member and extending into the inner cylinder, a pair of spring jaws carried by said supporting member and slidably engaging said inner member, said jaws being controllable by movements of said inner cylindrical member relatively to said outer cylindrical member for the purpose of grasping an object, and an ejector rod extending through said inner cylindrical member and controllable by the operator for causing said jaws to disengage said object.

Signed at Oceanside, in the county of Nassau and State of New York, this 19th day of June, 1930.

MICHAEL C. MIKKELSEN. 

